Bill Text: HI HB552 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Chapter 200, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB552 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB552-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
552 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CHAPTER 200, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that some boating and ocean recreation laws impose criminal penalties and that these penalties are not proportional to the severity of the acts committed. Alleged violators of these less-severe offenses are required to spend their time attending court hearings to challenge their citations, and their cases clog court dockets. On the other hand, far more harmful acts are not sufficiently penalized.
The purpose of this Act is to align penalties for violation of certain boating and ocean recreation laws with the severity of the prohibited conduct by:
(1) Converting certain lower-severity criminal offenses into civil offenses subject to administrative fines only;
(2) Establishing offenses related to violation of the state water quality standards as misdemeanor offenses subject to suspension of operating and mooring privileges;
(3) Establishing offenses related to reckless or unauthorized operation of a vessel, unauthorized mooring, violation of commercial boating rules, and operating a vessel while under the influence of an intoxicant as misdemeanor offenses; and
(4) Clarifying that the department may impose administrative fines in addition to civil or criminal penalties.
SECTION 2. Section 200-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§200-14 Violation of rules; penalty.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), any person who violates this
part or any rule adopted [by the department under] pursuant to
this part [or who violates this part, shall be fined not more than $1,000
or less than $50 for each violation, and any vessel, the agents, owner, or crew
of which violate the rules of the department or this part, shall be fined not
more than $1,000 or less than $50 for each violation; provided that in addition
to or as a condition to the suspension of the fines and penalties, the
environmental court may deprive the offender of the privilege of operating or
mooring any vessel in state waters for a period of not more than thirty days.],
and any vessel, the agents, owner, or crew of which violate the rules of the
department or this part, shall be subject to an administrative fine of:
(1) $
for a first violation;
(2) $
for a second violation; and
(3) $
for a third and any subsequent violation.
(b)
Any person who violates any rule adopted by the department under this
part regulating vehicular parking or traffic movement shall have committed a
traffic infraction as set forth in chapter 291D, the adjudication of which
shall be subject to the provisions contained therein. A person found to have committed such a
traffic infraction shall be fined not more than:
(1) $100
for a first violation;
(2) $200
for a second violation; and
(3) $500
for a third or subsequent violation.
(c)
[Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) establishing a fine
of not more than $1,000 or less than $50 for each violation,] In
addition to any civil or criminal penalties otherwise provided by law, any
person who violates any rule adopted by the department relating to unauthorized
discharge, dumping, or abandoning, in any state boating facility or state
waters, of any petroleum product, hazardous material, or sewage in violation of
the state water quality standards established by the department of health,
shall be [fined not more than $10,000 for each day of violation, and any
vessel, the agents,] guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to an
administrative fine under section 200‑14.5(b). If any agent, owner, or crew member
of [which violate the rules of the department shall be fined not more than
$10,000 for each day of violation.] a vessel that was involved in a
violation of a rule as described in this subsection participated in the
violation or had the power to prevent the violation but failed to take actions
to prevent the violation, the agent, owner, or crew member shall also be
subject to the penalties under this subsection.
In addition to or as a condition to the suspension of any fines and
penalties under this subsection, the environmental court may prohibit the
offender from operating or mooring any vessel in state waters for a period of
not more than thirty days."
SECTION 3. Section 200-25, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§200-25 Fines and penalties. (a)
Any person [violating this part, or] who violates any rule
adopted by the department pursuant to this part, shall be [fined not
less than $50 and not more than $1,000 or sentenced to a term of imprisonment
of not more than thirty days, or both, for each violation;] subject to
an administrative fine of:
(1) $
for a first violation;
(2) $
for a second violation; and
(3) $ for a third and any subsequent violation;
provided that [in] any person who violates
any rule adopted by the department relating to reckless or unauthorized
operation of a vessel, unauthorized vessel mooring, or the regulation of
commercial boating and ocean recreation activities, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor; provided further that any person who violates any rules adopted by
the department relating to operating a vessel under the influence of an
intoxicant shall be subject to penalties.
(b) In addition to, or as a condition to the
suspension of, [the] fines and other penalties, the environmental
court may deprive the offender of the privilege of operating any vessel,
including [but not limited to] any thrill craft or vessel engaged in
parasailing or water sledding, in the waters of the State for a period of not
more than thirty days."
SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
DLNR; Boating; Ocean Recreation; Penalties; Administrative Fines
Description:
Amends penalties for violations of laws and administrative rules governing boating and ocean recreation by aligning penalties with the severity of the prohibited conduct. Clarifies that imposition of civil or criminal penalties does not preclude the imposition of administrative fines. (HB552 HD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
